I'm shopping around for a possible frequent flier program change from Continental, and was wondering what airlines will give elites upgrades on domestic coach AWARD tickets.

I know that Northwest does. Are they the only Airline like that? Would they do it for CO elites who booked a flight using an NW award and put their CO elite FF# in the NW award reservation? I'm non-elite on NW but I have 25k miles in an NWFF account and want to use it for the domestic coach award, and want to know if my CO platinum will give me the same upgrade rights on a NW award ticket as would an NW platinum. I know it does for paid tickets, but awards are questionable. What about if I booked the same ticket using my CO miles buy flying NW still?

I also know that American, Continental, and US Air do NOT upgrade awards.

UA will do so, but only for United Global Services members. This is a new benefit and as I recall, it applies to both Domestic and International Awards. Large thread about it in the UA Mileage Plus forum on FlyerTalk.com.

It's the uber-high tier in Mileage Plus. Reserved mostly for CEOs, government officials, people who spend *a lot* of money with UA, people who fly an incredible amount with UA, etc. I think it's also invitation only, so there's no set requirement to qualify for it.

Invitation-only hyper duper super frequent flyer tier. UA makes it by invitation-only rather than by a set amount of miles in order to be able to include people who do not have enough miles to warrant membership but that UA wants to make very happy nevertheless (think the guy who signs the corporate contract that's worth $$$$$$$$$$ a year).

If you are a BD*A Gold card holder - it takes 53K miles, and all UA and US ticket classes qualify.

So, once you reach Gold, you are enttled to teh next class of service at Y miles (or miles + cash). So, if, for example you wanted to fly JFK-LAX in C, all you would have to pay for are the Y miles, or the Y miles+cash, 30K miles (or 15K miles and £100/$150).

BD will not comp you if you are already *A card holder, bu they will comp AA/BA AF/KL, or CO etc. Either way if you fly a lot with UA/US or AC, then you have lots of earning oppertunities.

As far as I know, a CO Plat is eligible for upgrade on NW metal (given those circumstances, almost a guarantee) regardless of whether miles for the ticket are debited from a WP or a OP account. I've been upgraded as a CO Plat on NW-operated flights ticketed on CO stock as part of a OnePass reward ticket (standard coach domestic reward series), so I'm pretty sure you'd be in good shape.

Quoting CODC10 (Reply 9):As far as I know, a CO Plat is eligible for upgrade on NW metal (given those circumstances, almost a guarantee) regardless of whether miles for the ticket are debited from a WP or a OP account. I've been upgraded as a CO Plat on NW-operated flights ticketed on CO stock as part of a OnePass reward ticket (standard coach domestic reward series), so I'm pretty sure you'd be in good shape.

Thanks... it looks like I'm going to be flying CO for all my paid travel need and NW for all my OnePass rewards LOL